US 2018/0294719 A1 · MULTIPHASE POWER SUPPLY AND FAILURE MODE PROTECTION

Abstract

A multi-phase power supply circuit includes multiple phases to convert an input voltage into a respective output voltage to power a load. A first phase of the multi-phase power supply includes a core power supply circuit including, for example, high side switch circuitry and low side switch circuitry. During normal operation, the core power supply circuit converts an input voltage into a respective output voltage to power a load. To provide failure mode protection with respect to the core power supply circuit and prevent a failure mode in which the first phase would otherwise produce a dangerous over-voltage condition, the first power supply phase includes an input voltage switch circuit disposed between an input voltage source and the core power supply circuit. The input voltage switch circuit provides a way of preventing the input voltage from being conveyed to the core power supply circuit during a failure mode.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A power supply phase comprising:

high side switch circuitry;
low side switch circuitry, a combination of the high side switch circuitry and the low side switch circuitry controlled to produce a respective output voltage to power a load;
and
an input voltage switch circuit disposed between a voltage source and the high side switch circuitry, the input voltage switch circuit operable to prevent conveyance of an input voltage received from the voltage source to the high side switch circuitry during a fault condition.

1 more element

A multi-phase power supply comprising:

an input port to receive an input voltage from a voltage source;
a first power supply phase, the first power supply phase including a first input voltage switch circuit disposed between the voltage source and a power supply circuit in the first power supply phase, the first input voltage switch circuit operable to control conveyance of the input voltage received from the voltage source to the power supply circuit of the first power supply phase;
and
a second power supply phase, the second power supply phase including a second input voltage switch circuit disposed between the voltage source and a power supply circuit in the second power supply phase, the second input voltage switch circuit operable to control conveyance of the input voltage received from the voltage source to the power supply circuit of the second power supply phase.

1 more element

A method of control a multi-phase power supply, the method comprising:

controlling a combination of high side switch circuitry and low side switch circuitry in a first phase of the multi-phase power supply to produce a respective output voltage to power a load;
and
controlling an input voltage switch circuit of the first phase of the first phase, the input voltage switch circuit disposed between a voltage source and the high side switch circuitry, the input voltage switch circuit controlled to prevent conveyance of an input voltage received from the voltage source to the high side switch circuitry during a fault condition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiphase power supply and failure mode protection

Life of this patent

Multiphase power supply and failure mode protection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36